Pashupatinath Darshan

Bala Chaturdashi is a renowned festival here in Nepal held at Pashupatinath Temple which is situated in Kathmandu. It is celebrated in memory of departed family members in Nepal every year in late November and early December. People put oil lamps in the rivers and believe that this lights up the world of the dead. Devotees sit at the edge of the Bagmati river while facing the Pashupatinath temple and stay all night.

Bala Chaturdashi festival rituals start from the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Mangsir (from Marga Krishna Trayodashi). People who take part in this ceremony fast and only eat one meal a day. Also, on the day of the rituals, people don’t eat garlic, fish, eggs, onions, and other foods. And, they visit the Pashupatinath temple or other shrines to Lord Shiva in the evening and sing hymns and prayers all night long.

Maha Shivaratri is considered as one of the most renowned festivals celebrated in Pashupatinath temple. It is celebrated with the same sincerity and excitement every year across Nepal. The meaning of Maha Shivaratri means the night of ‘Lord Shiva’. It is a Hindu festival celebrated each year on the 13th night and 14th day of the waning moon of Phalguna. People from all around the world come here; to Pashupatinath Temple to celebrate the festival in honour and devotion to the Hindu Lord, Shiva.

Also, Maha Shivaratri usually falls in March or February each year. There is a Shivaratri day in every month of the Lunar-Solar in the Hindu calendar but Shiva Ratri is only celebrated on the 13th and 14th of the waning moon.

It’s the night of lord Shiva. People celebrate this day with much sincerity to overcome the darkness with light. Pashupatinath is the home of Lord Shiva in Nepal. And, Sadhu and pilgrims from across the world come to Nepal to visit the temple to celebrate this festival together.

Haritalika Teej is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal where women get together and pray to Lord Shiva. On the day of the festival, women wear red Saari, red tike, and bangles and sing and perform to traditional folks and also take the fasting whole day. Women and young girls take fasting and pray to Lord Shiva for the long and prosperous life of their husbands and future life partner.

They don’t even drink water the whole day and spend time visiting Lord Shiva’s temples. What is more fascinating to see is that women of all age groups, young or old, dance for hours in rain, and heat, without having water or food for the entire day. Also, This festival arrives on the third day of the new moon of the Bhadrapad on the Hindu calendar. And it marks the beginning of the rainy season in Nepal.

During this month, a lot of people gathered at the Pashupatinath Temple; one of the holiest temples of Lord Shiva, in Nepal. They offer flowers and other things including lighting butter lamps. Red attire and green red, and yellow bangles are considered to b important during this period and every woman wears it for the whole month, along with decorative henna tattoos on hand.

There are various festivals throughout the year including the Maha Shivaratri and the Teej festival. Teej is one of the most popular festival celebrated in the temple. During the festival thousands of women bath in the holy water of the Bagmati river. And, also take a full moon fasting without drinking water because this ritual is believed to bring a happy and long marriage.

Here are the 51 festivals and date according to calendar year.

पशुपतिमा हुने जात्रा – पर्व पूजा

१) दमना रोहण – वैशाख शुक्ल अष्टमी (Damana Rohana – Baisakh Shukla Astami)
२) महास्थान – प्रत्येक महिनाको पूर्णीमा (Mahasthan – During Purnia of every months)
३) गंगा दशहरा – जेष्ठ शुक्ल दशमी (Ganga Dashara – Jestha Shukla Dasami)
४) कुमार षष्ठी – आसाढ शुक्ल षष्ठी (Kumar Shashthi – Ashad Shukla Shashti)
५) अञ्चला सजमी – आसाढ शुक्ल पूर्णीमा (Anchala Sajami – Ashad Shukla Purnima)
६) गुरु पूर्णीमा – आसाढ शुक्ल पूर्णीमा (Guru Purnima – Ashad Shukla Purnima)
७) साउने सोमवार – श्रावण शुक्ल चतुर्दशी (Shrawan Monday’s – Shrawan Shukla Chaturdashi)
८) पवित्रा रोहण – श्रावण शुक्ल चतुर्दशी (Pabitra Rohan – Shrawan Shukla Chaturdashi)
९) पञ्चदान – श्रावण शुक्ल त्रयोदशी (Panchdan – Shrawan Shukla Trayodashi)
१०) तीज – भाद्र शुक्ल तृतीया (Teej – Bhadra Shukla Tritiya)
११) वडादशैं – आश्विन शुक्ल प्रतिपदादेखि (Bada Dashain – Ashwin Shukla Pratipada dekhi)
१२) वैकुण्ठ चतुर्दशी – कात्र्तिक कृष्ण चतुर्दशी (Baikuntha Chaturdashi – Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi)
१३) दिपावली – कात्र्तिक कृष्ण औंशी (Dipawali – Kartik Krishna Aoushi)
१४) कुष्माण्ड नवमी – कात्र्तिक शुक्ल नवमी  (Kushmand Nawami – Kartik Shukla Nawami)
१५) वालाचतुर्दशी – मार्ग कृष्ण चतुर्दशी (Bala Chaturdashi – Marga Krishna Chaturdashi)
१६) धर्नुमास – पौष महिना (Dharnumash – Poush Mahina)
१७) माघे संक्रान्ति – माघ १ गते संक्रान्ति (Maghe Sankranti – 1st of Magh)
१८) छायाँ दर्शन – टिकिन्छया – माघ शुक्ल चतुर्दशी (Chaya Darshan – Magh Shukla Chaturdashi)
१९) महाशिवरात्री – फागुन कृष्ण चतुर्दशी (Maha Shivaratri – Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi)
२०) फाल्गुण अष्टमी पूजा – किर्तिमुख भैरवको पूजा (Falgun Ashthami Puja – Kirtimukh Vairav ko puja)
२१) महापुजा – मार्ग शुक्ल अष्टमी ( Mahapuja – Marga Shukla Ashthami)
२२) मातातिर्थ औंशी – वैशाख कृष्ण औंशी (Matatirtha Aoushi  – Baisakh Krishna Aaushi)
२३) बनकाली जात्रा – वैशाख शुक्ल तुतिया (Bankali Jatra – Baisakh Shukla Tritiya)
२४) बागमती जात्रा – वैशाख शुक्ल तृतिया (Bagmati Jatra – Baisakh Shukla Tritiya)
२५) त्रिशुल जात्रा – आषाढ कृष्ण अष्टमी (Trishul Jatra – Ashad Krishna Astami)
२६) गंगामाई जात्रा – आषाढ शुक्ल अष्टमी (Gangamai Jatra – Ashad Shukla Astami)
२७) घण्टाकर्ण – गाँठेमंगल – श्रावण कृष्ण चतुर्दशी (Gathyemangal/ Ghantakarna – Shrawan Krishna Chaturdashi)
२८) गुलाँधर्म – श्रावण शुक्ल प्रतिपदादेखि (Guladharma – Shrawan Shukla Pratipada dekhi)
२९) गाईजात्रा – भाद्र औंशी कृष्ण प्रतिपदा (Gaijatra – Bhadra Aaushi Krishna Pratipada)
३०) खड्ग जात्रा – भाद्र कृष्ण द्वित्तीया (Khadga Jatra – Bhadra Krishna Dithiya)
३१) रोपाई जात्रा – भाद्र कृष्ण तृत्तीया (Ropai Jatra – Bhadra Krishna Tritiya)
३२) कृष्ण अष्टमी – भाद्र कृष्ण अष्टमी (Krishna Astami – Bhadra Krishna Astami)
३३) उपाको वनेगु – भाद्र शुक्ल द्वदशी (वामन द्वादशी) (Upaako Banegu – Bhadra Shukla Drodasi)
३४) ईन्द्र जात्रा – भााद्र शुक्ल चतुर्दशी (Indra Jatra – Bhadra Shukla Chaturdshi)
३५) दिपंखा जात्रा – आश्विन शुक्ल पूर्णीमा (Dipankha Jatra – Ashwin Shukla Purnia)
३६) चन्द्र विनायक तथा भैरव जात्रा – कात्र्तिक शुक्ल पूर्णिमादेखि कात्र्तिक कृष्ण तृत्तीया (Chandra Binayak/ Vairab Jatra – From Kartik Shukla Purnima to Kartik Krishna Tritiya)
३७) गुहेश्वरी जात्रा – मार्ग कृष्ण अष्टमी, नवमी, दशमी (Griyeshwari Jatra – Magh Krishna Ashtami, Nawami, Dashami)
३८) नवदुर्गा नाच – मार्ग शुक्ल नवमी (Nawadurga Nach – Magh Shukla Nawami)
३९) हरिसिद्धि नाच – प्रत्येक १२÷१२ वर्षमा (Harisidhi Nach – In every 12/12 years)
४०) माधव नारायण जात्रा – माघ कष्ण चतुर्दशी (Madhab Narayan Jatra Magh Krishna Chatrudashi)
४१) भिमसेन जात्रा – माघ कृष्ण एकादशी ÷द्वादशी (Bhimsen Jatra – Magh Krishna Akadashi, Dritiya)
४२) दुःदु च्यााँच्यो – चैत्र कृष्ण अष्टमी (Du:Du ChyanChyo – Chaitra Krishna Astami)
४३) देशोद्वार पूजा, बज्रेश्वरी जात्रा तथा वत्सले चैत्र कृष्ण द्वादशी देखि (Dasodwar Puja – Chiatra Krishna Astami)
४४) शोभन यात्रा (Shobhan Yatra)
४५) नागचा प्याखँ – आश्विन कृष्ण प्रतिपदा देखि (Nagacha Pyakh – Ashwin Krishna Pratipada dekhi)
४६) लिङ्ग यत्रा – माघ कृष्ण चतुर्दशी (Linga Yatra – Magh Krishna Chaturdashi)
४७) बोडे निलवाराही जात्रा – १२–१२ वर्षमा (Bode Nilbarahi Jatra –  In every 12/12 years)
४८) उपलिङ्ग जात्रा – माघ शुक्ल पञ्चमी पूर्णिमा (Upalinga Jatra – Magh Shukla Panchami Purnima)
४९) कुण्ड जात्रा – श्रावण शुक्ल प्रतिपदा (Kunda Jatra – Shrawan Shukla Pratipada)
५०) महाने चौथी पूजा – भाद्र महिना (Mahaney Chauthi Puja – Bhadra Mahina)
५१) बनभैरव पूजा – पौष महिना (Banvairav Puja – Poush Mahina)